Adjustable hanger strap for subway cars and the like



Sept. 7, 1954 M. H. HARRIS 2,688,288

ADJUSTABLE HANGER STRAP FOR SUBWAY CARS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 30, 1951 INVENTOR.

.MOSES H. HARRIS ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 7, 1954 ADJUSTABLE HANGER STRAP FOR SUBWAY CARS AND THE LIKE Moses H. Harris, New York, N. Y.

Application January 30, 1951, Serial No. 208,614

5 Claims.

This invention relates to hand straps for vehicle passengers, and is particularly directed to a hand strap for use in subways, trains and busses which may be held by standing riders.

An object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described, which shall be adjustableto accommodate riders of various heights and reach.

Another object of this invention is to provide an adjustable and extensible hand strap of the character described, which may be lowered to various distances so as to accommodate passengers having a shorter reach.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a device of the character described, spring means to raise the hand strap to bring the strap to various adjusted positions.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a strong, rugged and durable device of the character described, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, yet practical and efiicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which are shown various illustrative embodiments of this invention Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a hand strap embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4- is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the hand strap adjusted for a passenger with a smaller reach;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating a modified construction.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, I designates a hand strap device embodying the invention. The same comprises a sleeve having end Walls I2 formed with circular throughopenings l3 through which extends a usual horizontal supporting bar l4, fixed in any suitable manner to a subway car or bus.

The sleeve H has a part-cylindrical wall l interconnecting the end walls |2. The partoylindrical wall l5 has end edges I6 and I1 and is formed with a cut out therebetween.

Surrounding the bar I4 and disposed Wlbiun. the sleeve wall I5 is a usual torsion spring I8 which normally tends to rotate the hand strap from the full line position of Fig. 1 to the dotted line position of said figure, in the well known manner.

Extending from the sleeve wall I5 is a ribbed portion l9 and extending therefrom is a rod 20. The lower end of the rod has a transverse throughopening 2| through which extends a transverse pin 22. The pin 22 extends beyond the rod 20, as at 23, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Fixed to the lower end of the rod 26 is a circular disk or collar 25. The collar 25 has throughopenings through which the pin 22 passes and said pin ends extend beyond the collar 25.

Slidably and rotatably mounted on the rod 20 is a member 3|]. Said member 3|] comprises a cylindrical wall 3|. The collar 25 telescopes within the cylindrical wall 3|. Screwed to the upper end of the cylindrical wall 3| is a disk 32 having a central opening 33 through which the rod 20 passes. Cylindrical wall 3| is formed on opposite sides with slots 34.

Each slot 34 comprises a vertical slot portion 35. Extending from the lower end of slot portion 35 is an upwardly inclined offset portion 36. Extending from an intermediate portion of the slot portion 35 is an ofis'et slot portion 31 parallel to slot portion 36. Extending from the upper end of the slot portion 35 is an ofiset slot portion 38 parallel to slot portions 36 and 3'1. Slots 34 on opposite sides of the cylindrical casing 3| are similar and symmetrically disposed. The outer end 23 of the pin 22 projects through the slots 34.

Interposed between the collar 25 and the closure disk 32 is a coil compression spring it. Extending downwardly from the cylindrical wall 3| is an extension 4|. Attached to the extension 4| is a loop strap handle 42. Handle 42 may comprise a tubular metal member in loop shape with the outer ends 44 flattened and contacting opposite sides of the extension 4|. The flattened portions 44 of the handle are formed with openings registering with openings in the extension 4|, and passing through the registering openings are attaching bolts 45.

It will now be understood that for persons of normal height, the pins 23 may extend through the slot portions 36.

If it is desired to pull the hand strap down, the hand strap is first turned so that the pin ends 23 will move into the lower ends of slot portion 35. The hand strap may then be pulled down (compressing spring 40), until the pin ends are registering with the slot portions 31. The

hand strap may then be turned to bring said pin ends into the slot portion 31.

If it is desired to pull the hand strap still further down to accommodate a shorter person, the hand strap may again be turned to bring the pin ends into the slot portion 35, at which time the hand strap may be pulled all the way down (further compressing the spring 40) to: bring the pin endsstosthe :upperxends of theslotxpontion 35. The hand strap can then again be turned to bring the pin ends in the slot portions 38. Thestrap handle is held in each adjusted position so that the passenger does not constantly feel the pull of the spring.

If it is desired to raise the hand strap, the -.ha-nd.

strap is turned to bring the pin ends to the slot portions 35 and then the springwillrai'se the hand strap to bring the pin ends 23 to thelower.

ends of the slot portions 35, at which time the hand strap mayagain be turned to bring said pin ends into slot portion 36.

In Fig, 6 there is shown a device [a embody ingthe invention and illustrating a modifiedfconstruction. The device ma comprises a member 50 which has a rib portion [901, similar tothe portion :9 of Fig. 1,. and said portion [9a is providedwith a sleeve (notshown) similar to that shown at I I in Fig. 1.

Extending from rib portion We is a shaft a at the lower end of which is a head or collar a. Slidably mounted on said shaft is .a sleeve a tothe lower end of which may be attached a handle 42 in the same manner as shown in Fig. l. Screwed to the upper. end of the sleevev 30a is a disk 32aformed with a central opening 33a through which the shaft Zllextends.

The opening 33a, however, is formed with a key slot .332), and fixed to the shaft 200. is a longitudinal key 5| which slides through the-key slot 33b to. prevent rotation of sleeve 3% relative to shaft20. Interposed between the head .2511 and the: disk 32a isa coil compression .springa.

It will now be understoodthata strap holder may grasp the handle 42 and pull down thereby compressing thespring 40. When the-strap holder .leayes .gothe handle the spring 40a will raise the handle. This spring 40a need only be strong enough to lift the-handle together with the sleeve 30a.

It-will 'thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention :are achievedand which well adapted'rto meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings :is to be interpreted 'as'illustrati've and not in a limiting sense.

Havingthus described myinvention I claim as.new..and desire to secure-by Letters Patent .of the United States:

1. .A device. of thecharacter. described, comprising a member adapted to :besattachedvto .a support, a rod extending therefrom, a collar: at the lower end -of.-the rod, a-hand strap, member, a cylindrical member extending. upwardly :from the hand strapmember'and surrounding the=;-rod and collar, a disk: at'the upper end .of thercylin-v drical member, and a: spring interposedobetween the collar and disk and -surrounding-;the rod and disposed Within theisaid cylindrical memben'said cylindrical member being formed with: longitudis ing the hand strap member relative to said first member, said cylinder being formed with a longitudinal slot having spaced offset portions and means on the rod adapted to ride in said slot and engageable within said offset portions.

3. A member adapted to be attached to a support'in asubway or bus, a hand strap member,

arod on one of said members, a cylinder on the other of said members and surrounding said rod, and a coil compression spring surrounding said rod and disposed within said cylinder for raising 'thehand strap member relative to said first member, said cylinder being formed with two spaced apart longitudinal slots having oppositely pointing,- registering spaced offset branches and projections on saidrod, adapted to ride in the respective longitudinal slots and to engage respective branches, upon said rod and cylinder elements being rotated with relation to one another, meansfixed to said rod and engaging one end of saidspring, and means fixed to said cylinder and engaging the other end of said spring.

4. A member adapted to be attached to a support in asubwayor bus, a hand strap member, a rod on said first member, a cylinder on the other of said members and surrounding said rod, and a coil compression spring surrounding said rod and disposed-within said cylinder for raising the hand strap member relative to said first member, said cylinder having an end wall with an aperture through which said rod may slide, ahead at the inner end of the rod, and said spring being arranged between said end wall and said head, said cylinder being'formed with a longitudinal slot having, spaced oifset branches, and a projection .on saidrrod head, adapted to ride in said slot-and engageable within said ofiset branches.

5. Amember adapted to be attached to a support in a subway or bus,w,a hand strap member. a rod on one oflsaid members, a cylinder on the other .ofsaid members and surrounding said .rod, and a coil compression spring surrounding said rodanddisposedwithin said cylinder for raising the hand strap member relativeto said first member, saidcylinder having; an end Wall with an aperture threughwhich said rod may slide, a head at the inner end of the rod, and saidspring bein'g arranged between said endw-alland said head, said cylinder being formed'with'two spaced longitudinal slotshaving'spaced offset opposite registering-branches, .and two. projections on said rod head, adapted to ride in said slotsand'em gageable jwithin 'tresp'ective offset branches.

Giglia vFebs10, 1931 

